RULES OF THUMB FOR PRONOUN REFERENCE AND ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

IEC READINGOCTOBER 2014

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A PRONOUN REFERENT

IS WORDS SUCH ASIT, HE, HIM, HER,

THAT, THIS, THEM, ONE, ONES, THEY,

etc.

THE COMMON PRONOUN REFERENT

QUESTION:The pronoun “X” in line Y refers to which of the following?

TWO TYPES OF REFERENTS:TWO TYPES OF REFERENTS:

1. ANAPHORIC

looking backward in the text for its interpretation

2. CATAPHORIC

looking forward in the text for its interpretation

EXAMPLES:

1.LOOK AT THE SUN. IT IS GOING DOWN QUICKLY.

2. EACH VIEWPOINT BASES ITS ARGUMENT ON THE SAME ASSUMPTION.

3. Emphasizing the need for qualitative research, Zimmerman maintained that empowerment can be studied only as the participants understand it and only in the context of their lives.

4. The conceptual framework provides an initial structure, but it does not control the analysis. Rather, the data leads the analysis, changing and rearranging the initial dimensions. The final bins or dimensions may not resemble the initial ones.

Every man should help his wife with ___ housework.

CHOOSE ONE: her, his, their

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Every man should help his wife with ___ housework.

her = the “sexist”/politically incorrect responsehis = the not-so-popular responsetheir = the politically correct response

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Every man should help his wife with ___ housework.

THIS CHOICE INVOLVES MAKING A DECISION ABOUT PRONOUNS AND THEIR REFERENCES OR ANTECEDENTS.

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Writers must make these and other pronoun choices in order to eliminate gender-bias pronouns and other “problem pronouns” from their writing.

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PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENTThis terminology describes a

writer’s selection of a pronoun in reference to the noun (or pronoun) it replaces.

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PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

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PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENTIf a student is absent, can he or

she make it up?

The pronouns “he or she” have anantecedent. Theproblem pronoun is “it.”The pronoun “it” has noreference point.

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Every pronoun needs an antecedent – a reference point.HERE ARE TWO PROBLEM

PRONOUNS: If a student is absent, can he or she make

it up? I was embarrassed about my grammatical

blunder, and it was all over my face.Where is the antecedent for these

pronouns?

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What is an antecedent?

THE ANTECEDENT IS THE NOUN (OR ANOTHER PRONOUN) TO WHICH THE PRONOUN REFERS.

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SOLVING YOUR ANTECEDENT PROBLEMS INCORRECT – NO ANTECEDENT

I was embarrassed about my grammatical blunder, and it was all over my face.

REVISIONS – Remove the problem pronoun.

I was embarrassed about my grammatical blunder, and the embarrassment was all over my face.

My embarrassment about my grammatical blunder showed all over my face.

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SOLVING YOUR ANTECEDENT PROBLEMS INCORRECT – NO ANTECEDENT

If a student is absent, can he or she make it up?

REVISIONS – Remove the problem pronoun.If a student is absent, can he or she make up the assignment?

If a student is absent, can he or she make up the absence?

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“Every pronoun must agree with their antecedent.” ONLY ONE PRONOUN BELOW AGREES WITH ITS ANTECEDENT.

Each of the young ladies has their own explanation for why the team lost.                

Everyone of the girls brought her own lunch.                

Neither the film nor the novel on which it is based has their characters well defined.              

The company built their reputation by regularly coming up with innovations that kept them a step ahead of their competitors.

Although everybody has completed the test, no one has been told what their score is.

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Every pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

Each of the young ladies has her own explanation for why the team lost.                

Everyone of the girls brought her own lunch.                

Neither the film nor the novel on which it is based has its characters well defined.              

The company built its reputation by regularly coming up with innovations that kept it a step ahead of its competitors.

Although everybody has completed the test, no one has been told what his or her score is.

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Things to Know Before You Begin How to proofread and edit for Pronoun

Reference and Antecedent Agreement Errors:

Locate all the pronouns.

Locate the antecedent for each pronoun.

Ensure that every pronoun agrees with its

antecedent.

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Pronoun Reference

This terminology refers to the use of a pronoun to refer to someone or something explicitly rather than to an unknown or implied reference.

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Pronoun Reference Scenario

Customer: I’d like to get a new key made.

Sales Associate: It’s broken.

Customer (looking at her key): No, it’s not broken.

Obviously, the key machine is broken, but the pronoun “it” has no reference point other than “key.”

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Common Pronoun Reference Mistakes

–Ambiguous – pronoun could refer to more than one noun

The partnership between Hogue and Stith dissolved when he retired.

Remote – the antecedent is too far from the pronoun, making the relationship between the two unclear

The ultramodern condominiums are located in an area of town where there are no streetlights. However, they are perfectly safe.

Implied – the pronoun refers to an antecedent not explicitly statedRandi thinks flying is the best way to travel though she has never been on one.

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Common Pronoun Reference Mistakes

Broad – use of “which,” “it,” “this,” or “that” to refer to an entire sentence or idea

The cost of living went up another two percent, which caused a serious problem for retired people on a fixed income.

Indefinite – pronoun (usually “it” or “they”) refers to a group or entity not seen or known

When I read the actor’s autobiography, it made me realize what hard work acting is.

Unexpressed – pronoun stands for noun that is not present

The library is a great place to work, but they have to stand up often.

Irregular use of “you” – unfairly referring to the reader

In Uruguay, you can be fined for not voting.

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Some Tips to Keep in MindWHO and WHOM refer to PEOPLE

WHICH refers to PLACES and THINGS

WHERE refers to PLACES

THAT refers to any of the above and anonymous groupsThe novels that are on my book club’s reading list are all bestsellers.

Ironically, the route that will get us there the fastest is straight through a mountain range.

WHOSE refers to PEOPLE, PLACES, and THINGSThe book whose pages are torn is an antique.

The cucumber plants, whose leaves were infested by moths and bugs, turned brown.

HISSELF, THEYSELF, THEIRSELF, and THEIRSELVES are NOT words!

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS DO NOT REQUIRE APOSTROPHES: his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs

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RULE #1

Every pronoun must have a clear and conspicuous antecedent (word to which it refers). The antecedent must be a single noun, not an entire sentence or idea. Therefore, do not use the pronouns it, which, that, and this to refer to an entire sentence.

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Watch for “it”!

INCORRECT

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy. It doesn’t surprise me.

REVISED

Our contractor’s being skeptical about solar energy doesn’t surprise me.

OR I am not surprised that our contractor is skeptical about solar energy.

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Watch for “this”!INCORRECT

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy. This doesn’t surprise me.

REVISED

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy. This attitude doesn’t surprise me.

OR His attitude doesn’t surprise me.29

Watch for “that”!

INCORRECT

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy. That doesn’t surprise me.

REVISED

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy. That attitude doesn’t surprise me.

OR His attitude doesn’t surprise me.

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Watch for “which”!

INCORRECT

Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy, which doesn’t surprise me.

REVISED

Our contractor’s skepticism about solar energy doesn’t surprise me.

OR Our contractor is skeptical about solar energy, a fact which doesn’t surprise me.

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RULE #1 Examples

UNCLEAR: It says in today’s paper that the weather will be warmer.

CLEAR: Today’s paper says that the weather will be warmer.

UNCLEAR: In the President’s speech, he said Americans need better health care insurance.

CLEAR: In his speech, the President said Americans need better health care insurance.

UNCLEAR: In my senior seminar, you have to write three research papers.

CLEAR: In my senior seminar, students have to write three research papers.

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RULE #1 Examples, cont. UNCLEAR: My husband wants me to become a teacher, but

I’m not interested in it. CLEAR: My husband wants me to become a teacher, but

I’m not interested in teaching. UNCLEAR: Hannah is not doing well in her physics class,

which is frustrating. CLEAR: Hannah is not doing well in her physics class, a

situation which is frustrating. UNCLEAR: Javier wrote to his brother when he was away

at college. CLEAR: When Javier was away at college, he wrote to his

brother. UNCLEAR: At this university, they require students to pass

a writing test. CLEAR: At this university, students are required to pass a

writing test.33

RULE #2

Every pronoun must agree with/match its antecedent in number: If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular too; if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural too. And--every pronoun must agree with/match its antecedent in gender: Use masculine, feminine, or neuter pronouns (it or its) to match the masculine, feminine, or neuter antecedents.

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Dual gender/singular antecedent INCORRECT

Everyone has to complete a questionnaire describing their job.

CORRECTEveryone has to complete a questionnaire describing his or her job.

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Pronouns ending with body, thing, etc. are singular.

Every, no , some, any}body, one, thing

Use singular pronouns with the above antecedents. Use his or her since the gender could be masculine or feminine.

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Singular Indefinite Pronouns continued INCORRECT

When someone has been drinking, they are more likely to speed.

REVISIONSWhen someone has been drinking, he or she is more likely to speed.When drivers have been drinking, they are more likely to speed.

Someone who has been drinking is more likely to speed than someone who has not.

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Generic/singular antecedents INCORRECT

Every taxpayer must pay their taxes.

A student must study hard if they want to succeed.

REVISED

Every taxpayer must pay his or her taxes.

A student must study hard if he or she wants to succeed.

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Genderless antecedents – collective nouns INCORRECT

The team has never won on their home court.The jury has reached their decision.

CORRECT

The team has never won on its home court.

The jury has reached its decision.39

Compound antecedentsStewart and Rosemary moved to the

mountains, where they built a log cabin.Either Jason or Rus should have

received first prize for his Flash Fiction essay submission.

Neither Mrs. Moore nor her students found their way to the conference room. (Match the pronoun with the closer antecedent.)

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RULE #2 Examples

The prosecuting attorney presented his case.

Each witness gave his or her testimony.

Judge Judy made her decision. The jurors gave their verdict. The court made its decision. Every journalist wrote his or her story.

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Let’s Practice!!!

Any student wishing to add a new course after January 10 must file a petition with (his or her, your, their) advisor.

HIS or HER The college plans a variety of entertainment and

instruction so that (its, it’s, their) graduates can keep abreast of modern education.

ITS Carlos’s interest in horseback riding stems from

the fact that his grandparents raise them. …RAISE HORSES.

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Mumps is an unpredictable disease; some of the family contracted them, and others did not.

…CONTRACTED IT… Does either of the applicants for the job have their degree

in marketing? …HAVE HIS OR HER DEGREE…

The economists forecast a rise in production; this was certainly encouraging to all of us looking for jobs.

THIS FORECAST WAS… In this chapter, it states that an essay should have a thesis

statement. …THE AUTHOR STATES…

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Let’s Practice a Little More!!!

END OF LECTURE

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